419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- officeunion29@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Thomas A. Shannon Jr" <kelveeni120@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officeunion29@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2017 14:22:49 +0300 (EAT)
Subject: Urgent Contac U.S Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington,
DC 20520.

U.S Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520.
Contact phone number (419) 776-5985) TEXT ONLY

Your ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped Through USPS To Your Address I am Mr.
Thomas A. Shannon Jr, United States Secretary of State by profession. This
is to inform you officially that after our investigations with the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other
Security Agencies in the Country for the year ended 2016, we discovered
that you have not receive your fund.

I have made it my first point of call since taking office to settle all
Outstanding Payments accrued to Individuals or
Corporations with respect to local and overseas contract payment, Debt
Rescheduling and Outstanding Compensation payment.
This is to make sure all Outstanding payments are settled beginning of
this fiscal year 2017. On Behalf of the entire staff of the U.S.
Department of State and the United Nations in collaboration with World
Bank, we apologize for the delay of your contract payment, Winning or
Inheritance funds from most of African Countries and all the
inconveniences you encountered while pursuing this payment.

However, from the records of outstanding beneficiaries due for payment
with the U.S Secretary of State, your name was
discovered as next on the list of the outstanding payment who has not yet
received their payments. Note that from the record in my file, your
outstanding contract payment is $8.500,000.00 (Eight Million five Hundred
Thousand Dollars) loaded in an ATM Visa Card that allows you to make a
daily maximum withdrawal limit of $5,000 Five Thousand Dollars).

I have your file here in my office and it says that you are yet to receive
your fund valued at $8.500,000.00 (Eight Million five Hundred Thousand
Dollars). This Funds will now be delivered to your designated address or
your preferred
payment option.

We have perfected all modules on how to bring this fund to your house
without any problem, but be aware that United Nations and the United
States Government has only authorized my office to release the Sum of
$8.500,000.00 to you as true
beneficiary of the Fund.

Note that your loaded ATM Visa Card will be mailed to you through Priority
Mail Express (USPS) to your designated address
immediately you admit full compliance to this email. You are advised to
kindly reply this email with the below details
enclosed to help ensure safe mailing of your ATM Visa Card:

Your Full Name:
Your Contact House Address:
Name of City of Residence:
Country of Residence:
Direct Mobile Telephone Number:
ID Card, DL or Passport Copy:
Age and Occupation:

NOTE: Every documentation proof for your fund have been packaged and seal
to be mailed together with your Visa Card to your address. Therefore, the
only obligation required of you by the laws of the Government of United
States and the financial Monetary Policy of the Supreme Court, states
that; you as a beneficiary must officially obtain the irrevocable LEGAL
STAY OF PROCEED from the Supreme Court of USA, as a means to justify the
legitimacy, transparency and clean bill of funds from USA so that by the
time your funds gets to you, no authority will question the funds as it
has been legally certified free from all financial Malpractices and
facets. The LEGAL STAY OF PROCEED is valued at a cost of just ( $98) The
fee payment can be made through Western union or Money Gram Money Transfer
down to Republic Of Benin The ( ECOWAS ) HEAD OFFICE Whom to sign :

After you make the payment, then kindly fill the below details or
attach to us the payment slip:

MONEY GRAM MONEY/ WESTERN UNION OR RIA MONEY TRANSFER NOW

Receiver Name::: Paul AJA
City::::::::::: COTONOU
country :::::::::Republic Of Benin
Zip code; 00229
Text Question:Last
Text Answer: Chance
Amount: $98
MTCN:
Senders name:
Senders address:
Sender current cell phone:

As soon as the above mentioned details are received, The LEGAL STAY OF
PROCEED will be secured on your behalf immediately. I need all the
compliance that I can get from you to ensure we get this project
accomplished. Personally, I am very sorry for the delay you have gone
through in the past years. Thanks for adhering to this instructions which
are meant for your sole benefit, once again accept my congratulations in
advance.

Thanks for your cooperation as your quick response to this email notice
with adherence to the above instructions is highly anticipated.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Thomas A. Shannon Jr,
Email ( officeunion29@gmail.com )
Contact number (419) 776-5985)TEXT ONLY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam